Pelargonium plant named ‘Fipelbrofir’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Pelargonium  plant named ‘Fipelbrofir’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately freely basal branching habit; leaves with a prominent dark brown-colored central zonal pattern and green-colored margins; early and freely flowering habit; semi-double light red-colored flowers arranged on rounded umbels; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIPELBROFIR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, commonly referred to as Zonale Geranium, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fipelbrofir’.

The new Pelargonium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Puerto Lumbreras, Spain and De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-flowering Pelargonium plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Pelargonium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2012 in Puerto Lumbreras, Spain of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number 60040, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number 88844, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Pelargonium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in July, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Pelargonium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since August, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Pelargonium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Pelargonium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fipelbrofir’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fipelbrofir’ as a new and distinct Pelargonium plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Leaves with a prominent dark brown-colored central zonal         pattern and green-colored margins.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Semi-double light red-colored flowers arranged on rounded         umbels.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower petal color as plants of the female parent selection have red-colored flower petals. In addition, plants of the new Pelargonium have semi-double flowers whereas plants of the female parent selection have single-type flowers.

Plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower petal color as plants of the male parent selection have red-colored flower petals.

Plants of the new Pelargonium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Mrs. Pollock’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of ‘Mrs. Pollock’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Pelargonium are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Mrs. Pollock’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Pelargonium are dark brown in         color with green-colored margins whereas leaves of plants of         ‘Mrs. Pollock’ are green, brown and yellow in color.     -   3. Plants of the new Pelargonium have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Mrs. Pollock’.     -   4. Plants of the new Pelargonium have semi-double flowers         whereas plants of ‘Mrs. Pollock’ have single-type flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Pelargonium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Pelargonium plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fipelbrofir’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Zonale Pelargonium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 17° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were 15 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Fipelbrofir’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number 60040, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number 88844, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About ten days at             temperatures about 19° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About 18 days at temperatures about 19° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             creamy white in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly             mounding plant habit; densely foliated.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous growth habit; rapid             growth rate; moderately freely basal branching habit.         -   Plant height, to top of floral plane.—About 27 cm to 29 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 25 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 11.2 cm. Diameter: About             9 mm. Internode length: About 2.5 cm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             Close to 145B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 7.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 8.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 143C; venation, close to 143C. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146D; venation,             close to 144D. Zonation pattern, upper surface only:             Location: About 1.4 cm from the margin edge. Width: About             5.7 cm. Color: Close to 166A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double round flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;             umbels displayed above the foliar plane on strong peduncles;             flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 29             flowers and flower buds per umbel and numerous umbels             developing per plant during the flowering season.         -   Flowering season.—In The Netherlands, flowering is             continuous from spring through the summer; early flowering             habit, plants begin flowering about eight weeks after             planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.8 cm by 3.3 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 43C.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five to seven. Length:             About 1.6 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex.             Round. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 43B; venation, close             to 43B. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 49A; venation, close to 49A.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About three to five. Length:             About 6 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Round.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 43B. When opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 49A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2.8 mm. Shape:             Ensiform. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 14.2 cm. Diameter:             About 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly             upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144C.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 1.2 cm.             Diameter: About 1.2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Angle:             Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth, glabous. Color: Close to             144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About five. Filament length: About 6.1 mm. Filament color:             Close to 36A. Anther length: About 1.1 cm. Anther shape:             Oblong. Anther color: Close to N34A. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm.             Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 38A. Style             length: About 1.8 mm. Style color: Close to 38A. Ovary             color: Close to 144C.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development has not been             observed on plants of the new Pelargonium. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Pelargonium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Pelargonium plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Pelargonium have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to 45° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Pelargonium plant named ‘Fipelbrofir’ as illustrated and described. 